Massage device



Jan. 28, 1969 s. R. MERANTO MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1966 INVENTOR.SAMUELR. MERAN-ro BY Y A TTORNE V United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A massage device comprising a flexible massage elementencompassing the brush portion of a combination handle and brush.

This invention relates to a massage device and, in particular, to afacial massage member which may be used in conjunction with a vibratorydevice such as an electric toothbrush.

It is well known that various beneficial results may be obtained byproper facial massage, such as nourishing of the skin and itsstructures, stimulation and strengthening of muscle fiber, reduction offat cells, increase of blood circulation, improvement of skinappearance, and others. Men, in general, have fewer facial wrinkles thanwomen because of the massage action of daily shaves.

There are available electrically operable facial massage devices ofvarious sorts. These are generally rather cumbersome and expensive andby the nature of their operation, they leave something to be desired inthe way of effectiveness and gentleness.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to produce afacial massage device which is extremely gentle in its operation and yetwhich is effective to produce the same results as hand massaging.

It is a further object to produce a facial massage device which may beused in conjunction with a toothbrush, preferably an electricallyoperated toothbrush, the action of which is firm and yet particularlygentle and soothing upon the facial tissues.

It is a further object to produce a device as described above which isvery inexpensive and which is selfoperable.

It is still another object to produce a facial massage device which isadapted to be used in combination with any of the various manually orelectrically operated toothbrushes presently known so that anyone havingsuch a toothbrush may readily convert it to a facial massage devicewithout having to purchase the expensive components of conventionalmassage devices.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingmore detailed disclosure.

In general, the invention comprises a generally cylindrical memberpreferably formed of a soft, rubber-like material such as foam rubber.The member has an axial opening partway therethrough into which thebrush portion of a toothbrush may be received. In one embodiment of theinvention a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges are providedalong the outer surface of the member. The outer end of the member maybe radially slotted to provide a plurality of flexible se'g'ments whichproduce a particularly soothing massage action when the member isapplied endwise to the massage area.

In a further embodiment the cylindrical member has the longitudinallyextending ridges along one half of its circumferential surface andcircumferentially extend ing ridges along the opposite half for reasonslater to be explained.

In either case the underlying brush portion provides a relatively firmand yet resilient support for the outer "ice massage member. Themulti-directional flexibility of the brush portion in combination withthe softness of the outer rubbery cylindrical member produces a massageaction which is particularly gentle, soothing and comforting.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referenceto the following more detailed description and figures of drawing,wherein:

. FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view as seen looking in the direction of the arrows alongline 22 of FIG. 1 but with the toothbrush removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 with the end segments in a flexedposition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention;and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4 and looking in the directionof the arrows.

In FIG. 1 a conventional electric toothbrush is generally indicated bynumeral 11 and comprises a handle portion 12 having an opening 13 at oneend insertable into a motor unit, partly shown at M. Depending upon theparticular type of motor unit, the handle portion in the alternative mayhave a latching member engageable with a hook portion in the motor unit.Obviously, any suitable fastening arrangement may be employed betweenthe handle portion and motor unit.

The opposite end of the handle has the usual brush portion 14.

The massage device includes a generally cylindrical member indicated bythe arrow 15, and which is preferably formed of a soft, flexiblematerial such as foam rubber. The member 15 has an axial opening 16extending partway therethrough from one end thereof, which opening isgenerally rectangular and of a size which is slightly less than thebrush portion of the toothbrush which is to 'be received thereinto.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the member 15 may further include aplurality of longitudinally extending ridges 17 equally spaced along themajor portion of the outer surface of that member. The outer end portionof member 15 is tapered as shown at 18 and is provided with radiallydirected slots 19 to form a plurality of flexible segments 20.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is adaptedto be used in conjunction with a toothbrush having a motor unit whicheifects oscillation in a direction crosswise of the brush rather thanlengthwise thereof. In use, the device is applied with the upper part ofthe brush portion 14 facing the area to be massaged. Two or more of thelongitudinal ridges 17 alternatingly come into contact with the massagearea. Depending upon the pressure exerted, very gentle to firm massagingmay be obtained.

In areas such as around eye portions the massage device may be appliedendwise to effect flexing of the segments 20 as seen in FIG. 3 toproduce a very gentle action.

A modification is shown at 21 in FIGS. 4 and 5 which is similar to thedevice except that one half of the circumferential surface of element 21includes a plurality of circumferentially extending ridges 22, the otherhalf of that surface comprising longitudinally extending ridges 23similar to those shown at 17 in FIGS. 1 to 3. Segments 24 are alsoprovided similar to segments 20.

Some electrically operated toothbrushes have motor units which causevibration of the brush in a direction lengthwise thereof, in which casethe element 21 would be applied over the brush portion as illustrated inFIG. 4 so that the ridges 22 are caused to come into contact with thearea to be massaged. This embodiment also permits the same massageelement to be used in conjunction with a brush which oscillates in acrosswise direction merely by applying the element to the brush portionwith ridges 23 uppermost, or 'by rotating the element 180 degrees withrespect to the brush portion.

Although the invention has been disclosed as having particularapplication in connection with an electrically operated toothbrush, itis apparent that it may also be used in conjunction with a manuallyworked toothbrush with beneficial results although more effort will, ofcourse, be required.

While two embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways, the invention is therefore not to be limited to the precisedetails disclosed, 'but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications falling within the spirit of the invention and scope ofthe claims.

I claim:

1. A massage device comprising a handle, a brush portion at one end ofthe handle, a soft, flexible massage element completely encompassingsaid brush portion and being generally cylindrical in form and includinga plurality of longitudinally extending ridges provided along the outersurface thereof.

2. A massage device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of flexiblesegments is provided at one end of said massage element.

3. A massage device according to claim 1 wherein said massage elementincludes a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges provided along aportion of the circumferential surface thereof, and circumferentiallyextend ing ridges along another portion of the circumferential surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 877,585 1/1908 Nicolai 128-621,517,615 12/1924 Chynoweth 12862 XR 1,611,510 12/1926 Brown.

1,631,133 6/1927 Jones 15244 2,206,726 7/ 1940 Lasater 128--62 XRFOREIGN PATENTS 1,095,847 12/ 1954 France.

L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 15110

